The Lyttelton Times. Wednesday, May 2, 1855.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 261, 2 May 1855, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. Wednesday, May 2, 1855.

The two most important subjects in the Superintendent's address which we have not yet alluded to are—the arrangement between the Province and the Canterbury Association, and the necessity for adopting and providing for some general system of education. Previous, however, to the introduction of these subjects^His Honor alluded to two measures, which would be laid before the Council this Session: the one a road and drainage bill; the other a bill for bestowing a Municipal Corporation on the town of Lyttelton. The first of these bills has not yet been laid before the public in any tangible shape; there can be no doubt, however, but that some machinery is required for making necessary roads in settled districts, and laying on foot some plan for the drainage of our towns. This has been so much neglected in other parts of Itfew Zealand, that towns more than ten years old are absolutely becoming unhealthy. In Lyttelton especially it is very necessary that some steps should be taken immediately for draining before the work becomes more expensive difficult. We have already expressed our opinion very strongly upon the Corporation Bill, so that we need not now enlarge upon it. With respect to the arrangement between the Province and the Canterbury Associa-i tion, after explaining the present position of affairs; and stating that the Crown was prepared to make good any defect|in the Association's title, should we wish "to accept the property, His Honor says,— " Should you tlien determine that the Province can, without injustice to itself, and ought, as a matter either of justice or honour* to undertake the Association's debt, it will obviously be necessary for the Province to obtain the absolute title to the Beserves. Such a title you can obtain by a joint conveyance from both the parties interested in the title, the Crown and the Asso^ cialion. On the other baud, should you refuse to entertain the proposal made by the Association, the Beserves will (either remain absolutely vested in and managed by the Association, or else will become a matter of litigation in the Courts of law." He then points but how ruinous to the prosperity and character of the Province the latter alternative would be. The Educational question occupied by

far the largest share of His Honor's address. He justly looks upon this as the most important of all subjects. Our readers have had an opportunity of gathering the views 4of the Government from the bill which we published not long ago. The proposition of a rate for the maintenance of a good educational staff is one which we hope will meet with general approval. " Tlie fourth mode of providing these necessary! funds is by a rate on the whole population of the Province. I have calculated that a rate of ten shillings on every person above the age of fifteen years, and five-shillings on every child between the ages of three atid fifteen years, would produce, even- with-the present population, a sum sufficient to provide for the permanent charges of an efficient educational system. But with such a rate another great principle might be asserted, I mean, free education for all alike. That the schools should be entirely open to all the inhabitants of the Province without any charge, and that, not as a matter of charity, but as a matter of right. A tax so small, to accomplish' an object so great, would not, I think, be deemed a burden. Upon those who had large families it would fall most heavily, but to those very persons it would prove an actual boon, because it would' enable such persons to educate their families at a less expense than if they had to make the present weekly payments. To those without families the charge would be too trifling to occasion complaint, whilst' it would constantly bring before the minds of all, the moral duty which belongs to all, to provide for the education of the youth of the community." There will be but few, we conceive in this Province, who will grudge *so small a payment as the one proposed to obtain so large a good. Whether he has children to educate or not, no one can 6ay that he does not directly benefit by the education around him, or that he would not suffer from the ignorance of the population amongst whom he lived. His Honor concluded his Address by alluding to the great struggle in which Europe is now plunged, and calling upon the Council to evince their sympathy with the mother country more substantially than by words alone. He proposed that, as we could not afford to make a large grant in money towards the expenses, of the war, we should give of that in which we were rich— our Waste Lands. " With this object, a supplementary clause will be introduced with the Waste Lands Regulations for making free grants of laud to a limited extent to discharged soldiers and seamen, and to the widows of those who may have fallen in the present war, and who may be willing to settle iii this province.l' We have drawn attention to the prominent features of the Address without any lengthened comment upon them. The Address speaks for itself. With its whole tone and general principles we most cordially agree, while differing from it in some of the details alluded to in it. On each individual measure to be brought before the Council we shall reserve our opinion until it comes under discussion.

b 'At a meeting of the congregation attending the Church at Lyttelton, itVas unanimously agreed to petition the Provincial Council for the repeal of the Church Property Trust Ordinance. The following petition was adopted":— i To the Honourable the Provincial Council of ■■■■ the Province of Canterbury. The Petition of the undersigned Members of the Church of England, resident^ within the said Province : HtJMBLV ShEWEXH, — That by an ordinance passed in the second session of your honourable bouse, entituled the " Church Property Trust Ordinance," provision was made for the election of a Board of Church Trustees; and, in the opinion of your petitioners, sundry clauses in the said ordinance are of an objectioimble Meharacier. . That your petitioners, taking; the premises 'mo consideration, most humbly pray your hou*

ourable house to report the said ordinance, with a view to the enactment of an ordinance embodying the following' principles:— Ist. 7hat the term " Member of the Church of England" be interpreted to mean every male adult, who shall make a written declaration that he is lonafidea. member of the said church. 2nd. Thai the elective machinery (that is to say the division of the settlement into districts, the 6xing of the day of election, and other particulars,) be settled by an ordinance, and, not by bye laws. 3rd. That in every district there shall be only two lay* trustees,, one elected'and one nominated. 4th. That a district be formed wherever the ordinances of the Church' of England are regularly administered by a clergyman, licensed to the cure of souls by the Bishop. sth. That no person be eligible to the office of trustee, who is not a regular communicant. Aud your petitioners will ever pray, &c,